Nov 10 2017
Soft Robotics today announced that it has been named a CES 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree in the Robotics & Drones category.
Products entered in this prestigious program are judged by a preeminent panel of independent industrial designers, independent engineers and members of the trade media to honor outstanding design and engineering in cutting edge consumer electronics products across 28 product categories.
Soft Robotics designs and builds soft robotic automation systems that can grasp and manipulate items with the same dexterity as the human hand. Spun out of the Whitesides Group at Harvard University, the design for Soft Robotics' technology was inspired by the octopus, a paradigm shift from traditional robotics engineers who are working to address this unmet need with hard linkages, sensors, and servo motors. This inspiration led to the invention of soft robotic actuators made entirely of polymers that do not require sensors or other electromechanical devices for operation.
By leveraging the properties of soft and compliant materials, Soft Robotics is able to build a fundamentally new set of self-adaptive and dexterous robotic hands that open up completely new applications. Labor starved industries such as food and beverage, advanced manufacturing and ecommerce can now realize the power of robotic automation. Humans can finally work side-by-side with robots that, even when operating at high speeds, are safe, adaptable and easy to use.
"CES Innovation Honorees represent the highest level of innovation and engineering, and we are honored to be the recipient of this prestigious award," said Soft Robotics CEO Carl Vause. "By solving for the human hand in robotics, Soft Robotics' team of engineers and data scientists are transforming robotics, opening up applications where they could never exist before. This honor truly validates how Soft Robotics is driving the robotics industry forward, enabling a new and better workplace of the future."
The prestigious CES Innovation Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™, the owner and producer of CES 2018, the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, and have been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976.
Soft Robotics' technology will be displayed at CES 2018, which runs January 9-12, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carl will also be speaking on "The Future of Robots at Work and Home" panel at the Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, N258 on January 11, 2018 at 11:30 AM.
CES Innovation Award entries are evaluated on their engineering, aesthetic and design qualities, intended use/function and user value, unique/novel features present and how the design and innovation of the product directly compares to other products in the marketplace.
Products chosen as CES Innovation Honorees reflect innovative design and engineering in some of the most cutting edge tech products and services coming to market.
CES 2018 Innovation Honoree products are featured on CES.tech/Innovation, which lists product categories, as well as each product name, manufacturer information, description, photo and URL.